Of the 356 Ramona High School Class of 2017 graduates, 112 will attend four-year universities, 149 will attend community colleges, 52 will join the work force, 21 will enter military service, 12 will attend a trade or technical school, and some will go to faraway places such as Paraguay and the Philippines, Principal Tony Newman said.

Newman, a 1989 RHS graduate, was among speakers at the graduation ceremony in Bullldog Stadium on June 8. Saying he planned to talk to the students as if each was his daughter or son, he told them a sign above the door in his family’s home reads, “Newmans can do hard things,” but for graduation night it reads, “RHS graduates can do hard things.”

“As you leave the field tonight, I want you to know that you can do hard things,” he said, adding they already have shown they can.

Change is hard and this class experienced many changes, said Newman. Academically, they went from state to Common Core standards, they went from traditional math to integrated math, and their teachers’ approach switched to make them self-regulated learners, “which meant you took on much of the responsibility for your own learning and growth,” he said.

“Getting here tonight has required you to work hard, study hard, and fight hard,” he said.

“Additionally, this graduating class has been awarded over $500,000 in academic and athletic scholarships,” he said. “That is not easy to accomplish.”

Among other examples of achievements, Newman noted that the school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps earned Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors for the seventh consecutive year, the food compost and food waste reduction program received state and national recognition, and the school’s agriculture, technical education, and culinary arts programs received medals and awards.

Gwendalyn Gibson led the Cycle Dawgs team and rode her way to state champion as well as having county supervisors declaring May 2 Gwendalyn Gibson Day in San Diego County, continued Newman.

“Competing in sports is hard in any division,” he said, bringing attention to the girls volleyball team that earned league championship, the boys basketball team that earned the league title, and the softball team that obtained No. 1 ranking in the county to make school history.

Laughter followed Newman’s reminder that it wasn’t easy for the seniors to list the school for sale on craigslist or for the seniors who “somehow figured out how to hang a For Sale sign on top of the RHS PAW building.”

“While we did receive many calls inquiring as to the purchase price of the high school, the mistake you made and the reason we could not strike a deal with any potential buyers is because you insisted on including the underclassmen in the sale price,” noted Newman.

No matter what challenges or difficulties they face in the future, “I want to remind you that you are ready,” said Newman. “I sincerely hope that you will tackle what comes your way with Bulldog tenacity and fight … As you leave here, please do so holding your head high and have confidence, knowing you have accomplished hard things already.”

Class of 2017 graduate Olivia Jensen sang the national anthem at the ceremony. Emma Smith, Associated Student Body president, spoke of her admiration for her fellow graduates and told them, “When you walk across that stage, you are whoever you want to be.”

Salutatorian Samantha Shupe said that, as they start the next chapter in their lives, “no matter where we all go, we’ll still be Ramona kids at heart.” She will attend Northeastern University in Boston and others will go to schools throughout the state and country, she said, noting, “I will miss the ‘only in Ramona’ jokes, the dairy smell, and of course the wonderful sight of a tractor driving down the street.”

Valedictorian Kaley Sapper told classmates to enjoy their time in the spotlight and thank themselves “for a job well done, and thank everyone who supported you to get here.” Before ending her speech, she told her classmates, “one more thing — Smile!” Then she turned around and used her cell phone to take a selfie with the Class of 2017 behind her.

Before giving the microphone to Superintendent Anne Staffieri, Ed.D., to formally accept the Class of 2017, Newman said, “Have confidence in yourself because you have been prepared and as Ramona High School alumni you are ready to do hard things. My last words to you as principal, please let me remind you one more time, ‘It’s always a great day to be a Bulldog.’”